Stephen Nover's NBA Tuesday Top Ticket
(NBA) LA Lakers vs. Denver,
Point Spread: 5.00 | -101.00 LA Lakers (Away)
Result: Loss
The Nuggets came together in impressive fashion last season winning 16 of 20 playoff games to capture the NBA championship. One of Denver's victims was the Lakers. 

After the Nuggets swept the Lakers, Denver coach Michael Malone said, "If anybody is still about the Lakers in the NBA Finals, that's on them. They've gone fishing. We're still playing.''

That flippant remark didn't sit well with the Lakers, especially LeBron James and Anthony Davis. 

Now the long wait is over for the Lakers. They get a rematch with the Nuggets on opening night. The Nuggets will be raising their championship banner and getting their rings among the many pre-game festivities - and distractions for them. 

The Lakers certainly should be the more motivated and focused team. They also have a healthy James and Davis and a deeper bench than the Nuggets, who lost key reserve Bruce Brown and Jeff Green.